april carnival cruises

Carnival Cruise Line Announces 2026 – 27 Cruises from Mobile

Wednesday, September 4, 2024 12:00 PM by Ashley Rains

Carnival Spirit introduces new, exciting itineraries.

Visit Mobile is excited to share Carnival Cruise Line’s announcement of the 2026 – 27 lineup of cruises aboard the Carnival Spirit from the Port of Mobile. The new cruise vacations are now available to book sailings to popular destinations, including Celebration Key, Princess Cays, Nassau and Half Moon Cay.

“Mobile has experienced unprecedented growth during the last few years and there is no end in sight,” said David Clark, CEO and President of Visit Mobile. “The drive to the Port of Mobile is the closest and most convenient from Central North America. With the new Mobile International Airport (BFM) opening in early 2026, the timing is exceptional for these new itineraries.”

From October 2026 through March 2027, Carnival Spirit will resume its seasonal schedule of six-, seven- and eight-day cruises from Mobile.

“We continue to sail from more U.S. homeports than any other line, and our 2026 – 27 offerings … are great examples of that commitment to provide our guests with the convenience of sailing from homeports that are a short drive away,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

Notably, the company unveiled an additional 16-day, one-way Journeys cruise. The Spirit will return to its homeport of Mobile with a unique itinerary that transits the Panama Canal. The cruise departs Seattle on October 8, 2026, and stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas, Costa Rica and Cartagena, Colombia.

Carnival recently opened a Carnival Journeys sailing from Mobile to Seattle that takes place earlier in the year, in April 2026. These sailings will be the first cruises connecting the ship’s two seasonal homeport cities.

For additional information on cruising from the Port of Mobile, visit Mobile.org/Cruise or visit Carnival.com .

Author: Ashley Rains

Ashley Rains is the PR & Communications Manager at Visit Mobile. As a native Mobilian, allegedly born under an azalea bush in Bienville Square on Joe Cain Day, Ashley easily finds that her hometown ignites her passion for the eclectic and emboldened. 

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Carnival Miracle - April 6, 2024

April 6, 2024.

Apr 6th - Apr 21st

Carnival Miracle

Carnival Cruise Line

15 Night Carnival Journeys - Hawaii

from Long Beach (Los Angeles), California

The April 6, 2024 cruise on the Carnival Miracle departs from Long Beach (Los Angeles), California. On this 15 Night Carnival Journeys - Hawaii (Los Angeles Roundtrip) sailing, the ship will visit a total of 16 different cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The Carnival Miracle sets sail on Saturday, Apr 6th and returns on Sunday, Apr 21st.

Carnival Miracle - April 6, 2024 - 15 Nights

The Carnival Miracle was built in 2004 and is amoung Carnival's 40 ships in it's fleet. The Carnival Miracle is included in the cruise line's Spirit class. In the cruise ship stats below you'll find the Carnival Miracle vs all other Carnival ships.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Kahului, with its bustling harbor and busy shopping complexes, offers visitors the chance to find spectacular bargains. The piers along the waterfront, lined with container-cargo ships and weekly cruise ships, are the embarkation point for Maui's sugar and pineapple crops. You can also watch the containers being loaded onto and unloaded from the many ships.

Honolulu offers many wonderful attractions. Aloha Tower is famous for greeting all who arrive in the port of Honolulu, and has the best views of the city. The Bishop Museum has the world's largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific artifacts, and the Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on American soil, has served as the residence of the last two Hawaiian monarchs.

Established as Kauai's principal port in 1930, Nawiliwili was named for the Wiliwili trees that were once abundant in the area. Cruise ships make port in the picturesque harbor, which is overlooked by the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club. Visitors enjoy the crystal clear waters and pristine beaches Hawaii is famous for, while in Nawiliwili.

Kailua-Kona is a great destination for those looking for small-town atmosphere in beautiful Hawaii. The town offers shops, galleries, gorgeous beaches, and spectacular sunsets. Many record-setting marlin have been caught in the area's waters. Step into the lobby of the Kamehameha Hotel, where you can see many historical Hawaiian artifacts.

The merchants and friendly residents of Hilo invite you to take time to explore and discover this wonderful city. Visit the many unique and one-of-a-kind stores featuring Hawaiiana (vintage island treasures). Shop for distinctive designer dresses and shirts, and see the famous Hilo Farmer's Market, or stop off for a bite to eat at one of the many local restaurants.

Ensenada is a pleasant combination of a fishing port and tourist center and is a very accomodating city. Visit La Bufadora, a geyser that spouts saltwater more than sixty feet up into the air and is one of biggest blowholes in North America. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the mountain climbing, beachcombing and hiking and Ensenada is a great place from which to begin your trek in the Baja's outback.

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In a nutshell, Carnival is all about fun vacations at sea and ashore! A Carnival cruise features day and nighttime entertainment live stage shows, musical performances, deck parties, casinos, waterslides and more. Guests are invited to come as they are and enjoy this unique experience against the backdrop of some of the world's most beautiful seaports. Carnival makes everyone feel right at home with comfy staterooms, attentive service, casual and elegant dining, plus a variety of bars and gathering places indoors and out. Their numerous ships operate short weekend getaways to immersive two-week voyages, departing from every coast in the U.S. While best known for Caribbean cruises, they sail to other exotic and amazing destinations like Mexico, Alaska, The Bahamas, Europe, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.

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Carnival Breeze

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Aboard Carnival Breeze, popular favorites like SportSquare and mouth-watering dining spots like Cucina del Capitano are just the beginning of the wow-factor fun. Enjoy the island atmosphere of RedFrog Rum Bar, or south-of-the-border taco goodness at BlueIguana Cantina. Let’s not forget Guy's Burger Joint and Bonsai Sushi. There’s family fun (and games) at Hasbro, The Game Show and ha-ha hilarity at the Punchliner Comedy Club. Carnival Breeze has the whole family covered — with water, that is — with the 320-foot-long Twister Waterslide. Just for kids there are supervised youth programs like Camp Ocean and Club O2. And adults can pamper themselves at Cloud 9 Spa. For fun after the sun’s done, take in the multi-dimensional Thrill Theater, dance in your seat at Playlist Productions or, if you prefer to do your dancing on a dance floor, check out Liquid Nightclub. However you enjoy your time, Carnival Breeze will transport you to Caribbean bliss.

Carnival Celebration

You know, it’s hard work making effortlessly-fun vacations. So please bring that unique Carnival spirit and know that this ship’s bringing the fun. Just like sister ship Mardi Gras®, Carnival Celebration has six Zones — themed areas that bring together incredible experiences and flavor. New flavors you haven’t experienced yet — nobody has! — are heating up at Latitudes™, The Golden Jubilee™ and Emeril’s Bistro 1397™. (Mmm, new Emeril.) Carnival Celebration also marks the return of innovations like BOLT® — the onboard rollercoaster, Bonsai Teppanyaki™, RedFrog® Tiki Bar, Family Feud™ Live, Havana Bar™, Seuss at Sea™ and Playlist Productions™. Perhaps best of all, all the fun you’ll have on Carnival Celebration is powered by clean LNG fuel!

Carnival Conquest

Aboard Carnival Conquest there's fun everywhere you look, from the dance club to the show lounges. The Taste Bar delivers small bites with big flavor, while the Alchemy Bar serves up one-of-a-kind drinks. The Punchliner Comedy Club gives stand-up comedians a place to share their craft for your enjoyment. And let’s not forget Seuss at Sea, which turns classic Dr. Seuss stories and characters into big fun for all. With delicious food, and fun-filled bars and entertainment, Carnival Conquest has a scene for everybody.

Carnival Dream

Carnival Dream was at the forefront of a wave of amazingly fun Carnival ships; as the genesis of the Dream class, she set the direction for the ships that followed — first Carnival Magic and then Carnival Breeze. Aboard Carnival Dream, get your appetite ready because you’re gonna need it! Options include two dual-level dining rooms, a gourmet steakhouse, the always-popular Lido Restaurant, the way-fun RedFrog Rum Bar and the cool BlueIguana Tequila Bar. You’ll also want to check out Ocean Plaza, which combines tasty treats with perhaps even tastier entertainment. You’ll find a fantastic variety of water-based fun throughout the ship, from the heart-racing waterslide action at WaterWorks to the soul-soothing Thalassotherapy pool at the Cloud 9 Spa. Make your Carnival Dream come true.

Carnival Elation

Carnival Elation is a celebration of the muses who inspire the arts, and the ship will inspire you to have fun! There are plenty of spots to enjoy your favorite drinks, from the laid-back Gatsby’s bar to the jumping Jekyll and Hyde Dance Club to the always-swinging Duke’s Piano Bar. There are places for a tasty bite as well, from Tiffany’s on Lido Deck to one of two grand dining rooms, and even the Musical Café. If being a kid is more your thing, age-appropriate, supervised activities are available from one of three youth spaces. What kid won’t be elated with the video arcade and the waterslides? Whatever brings you joy, you’re sure to find your happy place aboard the beautiful Carnival Elation.

Carnival Firenze

Join the Carnival Firenze and sail Carnival Fun Italian Style. Joining the Carnival fleet from her sister line, Costa Cruises, the Carnival Firenze is an all new onboard experience. The food, entertainment and service is typical Carnival, plus you can look forward to exclusive new experiences inspired by Costa’s Italian heritage.

Carnival Freedom

Carnival Freedom offers some of the fleet’s latest and greatest features. Explore food options galore, including Posh and Chic dining rooms, Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina. When it’s time for a beverage, choices include Scott’s Piano Bar, the 70’s Dance Club, the Alchemy Bar (cocktail-magic central!), EA SPORTS Bar and the RedFrog Pub. At the one-and-(adult)-only Serenity Retreat, total relaxation is not only encouraged, but pretty much required. Kids not only will find new friends at one of three youth spaces — like the all-new Camp Ocean — but they also can splash around with them in one of many pools, speed down the Twister Waterslide or challenge them to a round of mini-golf. And don’t miss Hasbro, The Game Show, where kids of all ages (even grandma!) compete in larger-than-life Hasbro games.

Carnival Glory

If you’re seeking a ship with a colorful personality, Carnival Glory is just for you. There’s a rainbow of vibrant dining options, such as BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint (designed by celebrity chef Guy Fieri), the Emerald Room Steakhouse, and the Golden and Platinum Restaurants. Grab a drink at the open-air RedFrog Rum Bar, the BlueIguana Tequila Bar or EA SPORTS Bar. Enjoy a show on the stage at Playlist Productions or take in the ultimate movie night under the stars at Dive-In Movies. Laugh until you cry at The Punchliner Comedy Club Presented by George Lopez. And when you feel like trying Lady Luck, the Camel Club Casino awaits with exciting gaming action.

Carnival Horizon

Designed to bring you closer to the sea, Carnival Horizon opens things up with outdoor spots like Havana Bar & Pool, SkyRide at SportSquare, and Seafood Shack, plus plenty of family- and kid-friendly spaces like the first IMAX® at sea. Custom staterooms, new and popular dining options, and even more opportunities to play, relax, and have fun make this new ship something to behold. Carnival Horizon is the future of fun.

Carnival Jubilee

Sailing out of her home port Galveston, Texas, Carnival Jubilee™ follows the fun footsteps of Mardi Gras® and Carnival Celebration® has some big flip-flops to fill, and you can count on Carnival Jubilee to take things to the next level with six “zones” of fun. Zones are areas themed to transform your vacation into a unique mix of experiences — hop from zone to zone throughout your day to make your own. (And two of them — Currents™ and The Shores™ — are new, oceany-fresh fun spaces.) We’re talking things like the third bistro at sea — Emeril’s Bistro 717™ — from our new Chief Culinary Officer; plus Carnival classics like BOLT®, RedFrog® Tiki Bar, Family Feud™ Live, Cucina del Capitano®, Seuss at Sea™ and Playlist Productions™. These are joined by fresh innovations like The Golden Mermaid™ and Dr.Inks, Ph.D.™… plus all-new onboard fun spots. And every last one of them is powered by clean-burning LNG fuel!

Carnival Legend

Carnival Legend is certainly deserving of its name. Legendary features include the RedFrog Pub, with its mythical mascot and Caribbean ambience; the Green Thunder waterslide, which offers a saga you’ll recount for ages; and Bonsai Sushi, which proves that you needn’t teach a man to fish for him to enjoy delicacies from the sea. Take a dip in the Camelot and Avalon pools, wish for fortune at Club Merlin Casino, and taste something savory at Truffles Restaurant. There’s more than one way to dine at Lido Deck’s Unicorn Café, and at The Golden Fleece Steakhouse, the great multi-course meal is no myth. Music lovers who go for the classics will love Billie’s Piano Bar. Kids will tell and retell tales of their favorite vacation, spent hanging out and meeting new friends at one of three supervised youth areas. And adults can get lost in a good book, or just one another’s company, at the legendarily kid-free Serenity Adult-Only Retreat, and then dance the night away at Medusa’s Lair Dance Club. This is one vacation that’ll go down in your history books.

Carnival Liberty

Among her sister ships, Carnival Liberty boasts many firsts. She was the first to serve up gourmet Guy Fieri burgers daily, and she introduced the exciting EA SPORTS Bar, arguably the most exciting sports bar at sea. Savor tacos and burritos on Lido Deck, then choose from two great bars — one rum-slinging and the other one tequila-wielding. Other fun-filled activities include the Twister Waterslide, Spa Carnival, the RedFrog Rum Bar, The Punchliner Comedy Club, Seuss at Sea and Camp Ocean. This is just the beginning of what to expect from a ship that’s sure to dazzle your senses and provide memories to last a lifetime.

Carnival Luminosa

Carnival Luminosa is joining the Carnival fleet from sister cruise line, Costa Cruises. Set sail on Carnival Luminosa and enjoy great views with lots of natural light, plus the hospitality and fun that’s purely, unmistakable Carnival. Setting sail in Australia before joining Carnival's fleet in Alaska for a summer of fun, then heading back down under for some for Australia fun!

Carnival Magic

At 1,004 feet, Carnival Magic continued the Dream class tradition of large-scale, bow-to-stern fun, including food and entertainment at Ocean Plaza, the splashy stylings of Carnival WaterWorks, and The Lanai, a scenic, half-mile, outdoor wraparound promenade deck. Carnival Magic didn’t stop there; she debuted all-new types of onboard fun, and continues to prove it with the outdoor fitness and fun of SportSquare, featuring the world’s first ropes course at sea. This ship introduced Cucina del Capitano, which serves up Italian favorites fit for a captain. And you’ll always remember your first taste of RedFrog Pub, with its laid back, no-worries atmosphere and signature beer, ThirstyFrog Red. Carnival Magic doesn’t just start good things — she continues delighting passengers cruise after cruise.

Carnival Miracle

Not only does Carnival Miracle call at stunning destinations, she also features incredible onboard spaces inspired by elements of fantasy. Escape from reality as you take in a show at the Phantom Lounge, a drink at Odyssey Bar or a dance at Dr. Frankenstein’s Lab. Lose yourself in a song at Sam’s Piano Bar. Indulge in casual fare at Horatio’s, artful eats at Bacchus and Ariadne dining rooms, and world-class cuts at Nick & Nora’s Steakhouse. At Alchemy Bar drinks are considered art, while the laid-back RedFrog Pub has “Caribbean cool” down to a science. Enjoy luxury-box comfort at SKYBOX Sports Bar. Whether you’re down for a waterslide or up for sunbathing, Twister Waterslide has you covered (in water, that is), and the Serenity Adult-Only Area is the ultimate relaxation station. No matter your age, favorite games come to life on stage at Hasbro, The Game Show. And the sweetest way to cap off the day is with a treat from Cherry On Top, the delightful candy-and-more store. Aboard this ship, miracles do come true.

Carnival Panorama

Look here! Look there! Look everywhere — that’s where you’ll find the fun on Carnival Panorama. The ship features fan-favorite dining, entertainment and relaxation experiences from Carnival's latest ships. Carnival Panorama will broaden your view and open your eyes to all that’s fun at sea.

Carnival Paradise

The final Fantasy class ship ever created, Carnival Paradise is proof that there’s something in a name. This ship is classic Carnival: fun from bow to stern, featuring spaces that amaze, amuse and entertain. Excitement indoors, outdoors and everywhere in between, Carnival Paradise features great times in and near the water courtesy of hot tubs, pools, and the Twister Waterslide. Indulge in tasty fare from the sea, compliments of The Taste Bar. And for those who appreciate a good story, there’s nothing better than Seuss at Sea. Sail aboard Carnival Paradise and you’ll find a little slice of paradise at sea.

Carnival Pride

Carnival Pride is a treat for the eyes, the taste buds and the fun buds! Dine in refined style in the Zen-like simplicity of Bonsai Sushi, the muted hues of the Normandie Restaurant or the Renaissance-era allure of David’s Steakhouse. For casual fare, try Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, and Cherry on Top, the sweetest candy-and-more store at sea! You’ll find room to move at Beauties Dance Club, and a hard time sitting still at Playlist Productions. Chill out and cool off at the adults-only pool at Serenity, and splash it up at the midship pool and at Carnival WaterWorks. Alongside the pool is the big-fun Seaside Theatre, while Seuss at Sea is a great time for those who love a good rhyme. Camp Carnival, Circle “C” and Club O2 are the hotspots for cool kids. And at Hasbro, The Game Show, kids and adults join forces in a friendly, larger-than-life game show showdown!

Carnival Radiance

While the sun has set on the legendary Carnival Victory, she’s been transformed into something that shines even brighter: Carnival Radiance. Everything the sunlight touches on Carnival Radiance has been doused with an extra dose of fun. There's the biggest Serenity area ever, featuring three decks, plenty of recliners and even a waterfall. Carnival WaterWorks, packs favorites and awesome new slides — like the slick Speedway Splash — into the signature waterpark. There's also SportSquare, where you can let your inner champion run free (around the jogging track), miniature golf, or engage in a little one-on-one, from ping pong to foosball to giant chess. Dining options include Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, Cucina del Capitano, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi. All the latest Carnival bars are here: RedFrog Pub, Piano Bar 88, and the new multi-purpose Liquid Lounge. It’s an expansive theater that’s home to captivating daytime and nighttime entertainment, including the line’s high-tech Playlist Productions revues and audience participation favorite Hasbro, The Game Show.

Carnival Spirit

Cruising aboard Carnival Spirit will elevate your vacation to an unforgettable trip. Stay on a ship that’s nearly the length of three football fields and 12 decks tall of things to do, see, taste and try. There’s heaps of fun on offer and something for everyone; little ones, big ones and the whole family. Enjoy the waterpark, mini-golf, two-deck fitness centre, jogging track and sports court, Serenity area (adults-only), day spa and pools and spas. Keep the kids entertained with three different age-appropriate youth programs, giving them plenty of choice on activities and the opportunity to make new friends. If you're a foodie, Carnival Spirit has tons of dining options - with Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ, Freshie’s Corner; Nouveau, where for a small cover charge you can dine in style; 24-hour pizza, ice cream and much, much more. If it’s night-time fun that you’re looking for then you won’t be disappointed. Carnival Spirit has more than 6 bars and lounges to choose from featuring all kinds of games, shows and entertainment. If you like a flutter on the pokies there's also a casino. Quite simply, pick and choose to create your own memorable vacation onboard.

Carnival Splendor

It’s hard to tell which onboard space best represents Carnival Splendor — they all seem to hint at the amazing time that’s in store for you. El Morocco Lounge hosts comedy shows, musical performances, karaoke and more. Royal Flush Casino invites you to try your luck, while the jazz club’s moniker — The Cool — says it all without saying a word. And the Pinnacle Steakhouse is the height of elegant dining. For free-flowing fun, there’s the Splash Park, the signature Carnival Twister Waterslide and the midship pool featuring a retractable roof that makes any day a pool party. At Serenity Adult-Only Retreat and Cloud 9 Spa, relaxation is the name of the game. For the best of both pampering worlds, relax in a Thalassotherapy pool and chill – so to speak – in a dry heat chamber. Do it all or do nothing at all. Aboard Carnival Splendor, the splendid choice is yours.

Carnival Sunrise

Aboard the newly refurbished Carnival Sunrise, guests who pack their appetites won’t be disappointed. You might start at BlueIguana Cantina, the taco and burrito hot spot, or Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, with menu items designed by celebrity chef Guy Fieri. Enjoy delicious coffee and baked goods at Java Blue Café or a cold brew at RedFrog Pub. Other exciting options include the Liquid Lounge, the Limelight Lounge and The Piano Bar 88. Kids will have a blast at the video arcade, plus loads of age-appropriate fun at one of three supervised youth spaces. Kids of all ages love the SportSquare, and everyone becomes a kid when they splash into one of the pools. Fun rises early on the Carnival Sunrise.

Carnival Sunshine

Everything the sunlight touches on Carnival Sunshine has been doused with an extra dose of fun. There's plenty to find atop this ship, where you can spend your days being kissed by the warm rays of the sun. Visit the biggest Serenity area ever, featuring three decks, plenty of recliners...and even a waterfall. Carnival WaterWorks, the onboard waterpark, boasts the slick Speedway Splash slide. There's also SportSquare, where you can let your inner champion run free (around the jogging track) or traverse SkyCourse high up.

Carnival Valor

Carnival Valor will whisk you away on a voyage full of fun, excitement and amazing destinations. Indulge in delectable dining in the Washington and Lincoln dining rooms, or at Scarlett’s Steakhouse. For all of the cool cocktails you can imagine, be swept away to the Dream Bar, Jeanne’s Wine Bar or the Bronx Bar. Kids can get caught up in their own excitement, hanging with others their age at one of three supervised youth spaces, or they can join the wacky, wonderful Dr. Seuss bunch for character story time (and more!) at Seuss at Sea. And pretty much everyone, young or slightly-less-young, will be thrilled by the 214-foot long, four-deck-tall Twister Waterslide. Aboard Carnival Valor, you’ll find fabulous vacation fun for everyone.

Carnival Venezia

Join the Carnival Venezia and sail Carnival Fun Italian Style. Joining the Carnival fleet from her sister line, Costa Cruises, the Carnival Venezia is an all new onboard experience. The food, entertainment and service is typical Carnival, plus you can look forward to exclusive new experiences inspired by Costa’s Italian heritage.

Carnival Vista

Designed to bring you closer to the sea, Carnival Vista opens things up with outdoor spots like Havana Bar & Pool, SkyRide at SportSquare, and Seafood Shack, plus plenty of family- and kid-friendly spaces like the first IMAX® at sea. Custom staterooms, new and popular dining options, and even more opportunities to play, relax, and have fun make this new ship something to behold. Carnival Vista is the future of fun.

Carnival's newest ship to their new XL-class, Mardi Gras® is the greenest cruise ship in North America, the first to be powered by clean-burning liquefied natural gas (or “LNG”). This ship introduces Zones — six themed areas packed with brand-new experiences for eating, drinking and spectacularly getting down to fun. There's BOLT™, the first-ever rollercoaster at sea, Emeril's Bistro 1396™, Family Feud™ Live for everybody... plus incredible new bars like The Brass Magnolia and Fortune Teller.

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Ship Rating

An outstanding luxury cruise experience with an exceptional level of attention to detail. Expect superb service from all levels of officers and staff.

A very good quality all-around cruise experience aboard a ship that offers a range of facilities and services.

A decent, unpretentious cruise experience, with a moderate amount of space and quality in furnishing and fittings.

A modest quality cruise experience with less attention to detail and service.

Expect a very basic cruise experience with minimal attention to service, hospitality and finesse.

Offers some, but not all, of the amenities and services associated with the next highest star rating.

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Put Some Spring in Your Step

Spring cruises.

Looking for the perfect spring break cruise paradise? Grab your friends and head to these breathtaking Caribbean vacation destinations.

Gather your family or friends and embark on a spring break adventure. Cruise to the Bahamas, where you can charter a boat to private Pearl Island or lounge on Junkanoo Beach. Set your sights on Mexico and explore the Mayan ruins of Tulum, or dive into deep-blue cenote caves near Cancun. Or explore the pristine beaches, swim-up bars and unforgettable views of Bermuda on the pink sands of West Whale or Horsehoe Bay Beach. 

Adventure awaits on a spring cruise paradise

Spring Break is officially ON – plan your adventure. Pick from these spring break cruise for your boldest getaway yet.

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Seek the Best of Spring CruiseS

Get ready to immerse yourself in the magic of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. 

Ready, Set, Beach

If your ideal spring break involves ample beach time, Grand Bahama Island is the place for you, with beautiful, crystalline beaches like Fortune Beach and Gold Rock Beach. In Phillipsburg on St. Maarten , don't miss a stroll and swim along the Great Bay Beach Promenade, with the sea's bright azure waters glimmering nearby. If you want to get pretty in pink, dip your toes in the pink-sand shores of Bermuda at Horseshoe Bay Beach.

TURF THEN SURF

When you're done shopping and feasting on local cuisine, head to the water to surf, snorkel or dive. If surfing is your style, head to Macao Beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic . If you're looking to dive, jump into one of the Cayman Islands' 365 dive sites, including Eden Rock, which has several swim-throughs and small caverns. For some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean, cruise over to the reef at Cupecoy Beach in St. Maarten.

While you may never tire of the tropical beaches in the Caribbean, you can also partake in adventurous land activities on your spring break cruise. Check out the Thrill Waterpark at Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay, where you'll find the tallest waterslide in the Caribbean. Or head over to Labadee in Haiti to visit Arawak Aqua Park and bounce with your friends or the kids on enormous water trampolines. If you're searching for something a little different, step into the past at historic San Juan in Puerto Rico .

Adventure's Heating Up

From the Southern ports of New Orleans , Galveston and Miami , you'll embark on the adventure of a lifetime in destinations like Mexico and St. Maarten. 

Grand Escape

There's no better place than the Bahamas to experience spring break. Grand Bahama Island will stun you with its beautiful beaches and reef-lined coves, and you'll have the Perfect Day at CocoCay* , where you'll find thrilling waterslides and breathtaking views of the ultra-blue waves. Or relax on Chill Island, home to the Bahamas' first over-water cabanas.

Take Some Time Travel

Embrace both the city and the sea in St. Kitts' Basseterre , where you'll find historic sites like St. George's Anglican Church nearby the bright-blue waters. Stop in Labadee, Haiti, where you can go on a tropical jungle trek through Arawak Aqua Park, home to the world's longest over-water zip line.

Am Mayan Heaven?

With its beachfront pedestrian path and beach club for shore excursions, Puerto Costa Maya was definitely built with cruise guests in mind. Lounge in one of the many seaside hammocks, or explore the Mayan ruins of Chacchoben for a glimpse of history. In Cozumel , visit San Gervasio, the area's largest ancient Mayan site, before snorkeling or swimming with dolphins at Chankanaab National Park.

Thrill or Chill

Whether you want adventure, romance or relaxation, there's a spring cruise just waiting for you.

Spring Into Adventure

For a spring break vacation filled with friends or family, and adventure, cruise to the west, you'll find ancient Mayan Ruins and fantastic snorkeling opportunities in the ports of Belize City and Cozumel . And to experience the awe of the world's second-largest barrier reef, head to Roatan . These expeditions and adventures are sure to give you the spring break thrills you're looking for.

Relax to the Max

Kick back and relax on a Caribbean cruise to St. Maarten , where plane spotting and beach hopping are the most popular pastimes. If lazing by the beach is the aim of your spring break game, a cruise to St. Thomas, Labadee and St. Kitts will suit you to a tee. Otherwise, shop up a storm in Bermuda's Somers Wharf Shopping Complex, where you can surely find the pair of Bermuda shorts you've been searching for.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO When it comes to having the best time ever, spring break is queen. But be sure to plan ahead to make the most of your adventure.

Looking for the best ways to get around the Caribbean? Many ports offer water taxis between towns and beaches, so be sure to explore in style. If you want to stay on land, a taxi is the easiest way to get around, as public transportation can be lacking in some areas.

To stay connected with friends and family back home, make sure you purchase VOOM, the fastest internet on a cruise , prior to your cruise.

To help you book the ultimate group vacation this spring break, Royal Caribbean Certified Vacation Planners are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And if your members of your group are looking to book with separate cruise consultants, they can visit the official Royal Caribbean website for secure booking. No matter how you book, be sure to pack your summer clothing, because your Caribbean adventure will be full of sun and fun.

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RELATED PORTS

If you head west to Mexico and Central America, you're sure to find thrills in ports of call like Cozumel, Puerto Costa Maya, Roatan and Belize City. Expect ancient Mayan ruins and rainforest hikes, as well as many snorkeling and diving opportunities. Or head east, where the Caribbean Sea is your oyster. You'll find ancient history in cities like San Juan, breathtaking beaches in the Bahamas, and hidden gems in St. Thomas and St. Kitts.

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

St. John's, Antigua

Roatan, Honduras

Labadee, Haiti

Oranjestad, Aruba

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Belize City, Belize

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Nassau, Bahamas

San Juan, Puerto Rico

George Town, Grand Cayman

Castries, St. Lucia

Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

Roseau, Dominica

Bridgetown, Barbados

Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico

Kralendijk, Bonaire

Falmouth, Jamaica

Cozumel, Mexico

Fort De France, Martinique

Key West, Florida

Banana Coast (Trujillo), Honduras

Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

St. George's, Grenada

Willemstad, Curacao

Ponce, Puerto Rico

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Yucatan (Progreso), Mexico

Bimini, Bahamas

Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

Cartagena, Colombia

Colón, Panama

Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

La Romana, Dominican Republic

Scarborough, Tobago

Port of Spain, Trinidad

Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos

Miami, Florida

Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic

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Complete Guide to Sailing Carnival Cruise Line (What It’s Like)

Carnival Cruise Line is one of the largest brands in North America, sailing from ports all over the United States to destinations in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and Hawaii. Put simply, if you want to take a cruise from a port near you, then there is a good chance that Carnival either sails from there or sails to there. (More recent ventures into Australia and Europe also give it global reach.)

Millions of passengers every year set sail on Carnival ships, and nearly all of them have a great vacation that they will remember for a lifetime. In total, the cruise line’s roughly two dozen ships sail thousands of trips throughout the year.

As one of the most popular cruise line in North America by number of passengers and sailings, Carnival offers a wide appeal. Whether you are a couple looking for a romantic getaway… or a family seeking to spend a vacation together… of just friends hoping to let loose for a few days on a girls’ trip, the line has something you’ll enjoy.

Still, you might be wondering if Carnival is the right cruise line for you. Or maybe you simply have never sailed the line before and want more of an idea on what you can expect. No matter the reason, below we’ve covered everything you could ever want to know about taking a cruise on Carnival.

And if we haven’t covered something you want to know? Let us know in the comments below.

In This Article...

Overview of Carnival Cruise Lines

Based out of Doral, Florida (a suburb of Miami) Carnival is what is known as a “mass-market” cruise line. While some companies try to appeal to niche audiences, Carnival tries to appeal to everyone. That means you’ll find a wide range of things to do that are for people of all ages and interests.

If you want a cruise line that caters only to people just like you, this isn’t it. From food to entertainment to activities, expect a number of things that will appeal to you… but also some that may not interest you at all.

Of course, having wide appeal means you’ll find all sorts of passengers on the ships. Ages range from 1 to 100, with families well represented. You’ll find couples getting married… couples celebrating honeymoons… couple celebrating 50th anniversaries. You’ll find those celebrating birthdays. You’ll find passengers just looking for a vacation for the family. And you’ll find everything in between. During the summers you’ll see more families sailing while longer cruises during the school year tend to draw older passengers.

Carnival’s fleet ranges the gamut from older, smaller ships to brand-new megaships that can measure the length of a city block and have roughly 20 decks. Like most cruise lines, Carnival is trending toward larger ships, with the introduction of its Vista-class (Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, and Carnival Panorama) ships a few years ago and the arrival of its largest ships ever — Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee.

For more specific details on Carnival and what it’s like to sail, keep reading.

Atmosphere of a Carnival Cruise

The cruise line’s famous motto is “The Fun Ships.” In other words, if you’re expecting a stuffy, luxury-focused liner with caviar and champagne, this isn’t it.

Instead, like most cruise lines in this corner of the market, the overall atmosphere is relaxed, warm, and fun. Hang out poolside on the first day and you’ll see the energetic staff leading line dances to help people let loose a little bit. Most restaurants are casual where you can get a bite to eat without having to worry how to pronounce half the menu.

In general you’ll find the staff friendly and warm, always ready to share a smile or laugh at a joke. If you’re thinking of a rigid “maître d” type that looks down his nose at you… or a bartender who acts like you’re an annoyance instead of a guest… you won’t find it on Carnival.

The ship décor also lends to the atmosphere on board. Some cruise lines aim to outfit their ships with luxurious and elegant décor. Carnival aims to make things nice, while also being warm and inviting. For example, instead of dark wood and shiny brass, interior spots on Carnival ships often look bright, often with lots of color.

Many spots include bright colors (even neon on some ships) that liven things up. Or select a Havana room on Carnival’s newer ships and you’ll be greeting by a waving senorita painted next to your cabin door.

Meanwhile, your fellow passengers further help to make the atmosphere relaxed. You’ll see that t-shirts and shorts are the dress of the day (except for formal night). And the mix of people and ages on the ship add some youthful energy to the crowd. Contests and events — especially those held poolside — are always fun and lively.

Luxury? No. But fun? Absolutely.

Price of Cruises

Perhaps no factor has been a bigger driver of Carnival’s growth as one of the most-sailed cruise lines in America than price. Put simply, no other cruise line offers as many sailings for as low a price as Carnival.

Whether looking for a quick 3-day getaway from Miami or a 7-day cruise from Galveston (and everything in between), it’s likely that Carnival will offer one of the lowest prices around. In fact, many times you can find cruises for less than $70 a day for the per-person price for an interior cabin. Trips under $120 per day, per person are just about everywhere. You can read more about the cost of a Carnival cruise here .

That’s not to say you can’t find deals on other lines. In general, however, Carnival comes in less expensive on many cruises. The best news for passengers is that those low prices apply not only to the cruise fare, but also once you board. 

Let’s take the drink package, for instance. Carnival offers the CHEERS! package , which provides up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day for one set price. Other cruise lines have similar deals, but Carnival’s package is one of the cheapest. The per-day price for CHEERS! is $64.95 (discounts are available if bought before you sail). Other cruise lines charge up to $109 per day for this sort of offer.

You’ll find the same sort of lower prices on everything from Internet to specialty dining. Bottom line, you can be confident if you’re looking for the best deal that any sailing from Carnival will offer lower prices both on your cruise fare and once on the ship.

Ports of Departure

In the same way that Carnival has beat the market on cruise prices, it has also set the bar in ports of departure. In fact, the line sails from more departure points than any other competitor.

Carnival has worked hard to put a port of departure within driving distance of hundreds of millions of people. Underserved ports like Norfolk and Charleston put cruise ships near people who would otherwise have to travel much longer distances to go on a cruise.

Smaller cruise ports, such as Baltimore and Jacksonville typically have a single ship that sails. While this does give you an option if you live near these ports, the ships that sail are not the biggest and newest in the fleet. More recently the cruise line has added ships sailing from Australia and Europe, offering more departures.

If you’re interested in sailing on Carnival’s newest ships, then you’ll want to head to a major cruise port such as Miami, Port Canaveral, or Galveston. These larger ports give you more options. Not only are there more ships sailing, but they also offer more routes.

Here is a full list of ports where Carnival has service in the United States:

• Jacksonville
• Los Angeles
• New Orleans
• Port Canaveral
• San Francisco

The following ports also have departures outside the United States:

• Brisbane, Australia
• Sydney, Australia

Note: Carnival has taken over sister ships from Costa and now offers cruises on those ships under the Carnival name. This includes Carnival Luminosa and Venezia.

Ports of Call and Itineraries

Outside of their own private island destinations (such as Carnival’s Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay), cruise lines largely sail to the same ports. So whether you pay more to sail a different cruise line, or go with Carnival, you’ll usually see the similar ports of call.

Carnival sails all around the Caribbean, Bahamas, as well as trips to Mexico and Alaska, among others.

Trips leaving Florida ports will usually go one of two ways — either east to the Bahamas (often with stops in Nassau, Freeport, or other nearby ports) or to the southwest, which takes passengers to the Caribbean and Yucatan. Popular ports of call here include Cozumel, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.

Sailing from the Gulf Coast (Galveston, New Orleans, or Mobile)? If so, then most routes head to the Yucatan and southern Caribbean. Ports of call include Cozumel , Costa Maya , Progreso , Roatan, and Belize. In Roatan, the ship docks at Mahogany Bay , a Carnival-dedicated port area exclusive to the cruise line.

Alaskan cruises on Carnival will depart from Seattle, stopping in Canada as well as several ports in Alaska. Sailing from Los Angeles usually means shorter trips to the western Mexico ports such as Ensenada.

Don’t have much time to sail? In addition to classic 7-day journeys, Carnival is also a leader in shorter cruises. You can find many sailings aboard Carnival that are 3-5 days in length. This makes the cruise line perfect for those searching for an inexpensive getaway, without having to take too much time off of work.

Things to Do on Carnival

In recent years there has been an arms race of sorts among cruise lines pushing to have bigger and better things to do on the ship. In our opinion Carnival trails in this respect, especially what we consider the industry-leader in onboard activities, Royal Caribbean. But newer ships have made strides.

Let’s first discuss some of “built-in” activities you’d find on many ships — those things that are part of the ship’s actual structure and not part of the entertainment put on by the crew. The majority of these items are on or around the pool deck, but not all.

( See our article on things to do on a Carnival ship here .)

Pools Of course, you can’t even talk about cruising without talking about sitting poolside with a drink in your hand. Carnival ships all have pools, with the newer ships offering multiple. Note that given the weight of the water (and the location of the pools high on top of the ship), the pools are not huge given the number of people on the ship. They are still more than adequate to take a dip. Poolside is without a doubt the most popular place to be on sunny days at sea.

Serenity Adults-Only Area Each Carnival ship also has a Serenity area for adults. This private outdoor spot is away from the crowds and no kids are allowed. Inside you’ll usually find whirlpools, a bar, and plenty of private seating. This includes clamshell-type loungers perfect for cuddling up with a spouse. If you simply want a relaxing spot without all the people (or kids), this is it.

Waterslides/Waterpark Ships will often have waterslides or even waterparks. No one would confuse these spots with massive land-based parks, but they are plenty for kids on a cruise. One thing to note is that for pools and waterparks your kids need to be potty-trained before they are allowed to use the area.

Bolt Roller Coaster If sailing the newest Carnival ships (Mardi Gras, Celebration, Jubilee), then by far the most attention-grabbing activity is the Bolt roller coaster . The only coaster at sea, the ride takes you up to about 40 miles per hour around the top deck of the ship. It’s a short ride, but the adrenaline will be pumping long after you finish.

SportSquare The Carnival SportsSquare is an outdoor area offering a number of activities that are all game related. From mini-golf to yard games (bean-bag toss, soccer billiards, ping pong) to a ropes course and the SkyRide, there is lots to do.

It’s definitely aimed towards kids and families, but people of all ages can enjoy themselves. For instance, the SkyRide is a sit-down bike ride that goes on a hanging track around the ship, offering stunning views of the ocean.

Casino Just like a pool, every cruise ship you sail is going to have a casino. It’s located on lower decks in the heart of the ship (so that it’s never far away when you are doing some shopping or eating).

Cruise ship casinos are similar to what you’d find on land, but not exactly the same. You’ll find all your favorite games, ranging from penny slots to roulette, blackjack, craps, and more. Often there are lessons for new players offered in the mornings. Limits are low (usually $5-10), making games approachable for all players. One thing to note is that the payouts for any cruise ship casino — not just Carnival — are usually low.

Cloud 9 Spa Each ship you sail on Carnival will have a spa, with all sorts of amenities and treatments for you to enjoy. Whether you want a massage… or acupuncture… or a manicure… or any other service, you’ll be covered. You can also buy a day pass to go enjoy the sauna, thermal beds, and more. While most activities on the ship are free, you will have to pay for any spa treatments you receive. Prices are higher than what you’ll usually find on land, but that’s the price you pay for treatment on the ship.

Fitness Center Not everyone goes onto a cruise to exercise, but for many it’s a routine they like to keep or it simply makes them feel a bit better burning off some of those buffet calories. You might picture a chain hotel “gym” when you sail, but cruise ship gyms are well-stocked and usually located in one of the best places on the ship.

Traditionally built with tons of windows looking out over the water, you can take in the gorgeous views as you run on the treadmill, do some aerobics, or get a workout on one of the many weight machines.

Camp Ocean Kids Area A favorite of both kids and parents, Camp Ocean is Carnival’s kids club on their ships. In effect, it’s a place where you can drop your kids off (free of charge!) and let them have a great time while Mom and Dad enjoy their vacation too. There are separate groups within Camp Ocean, depending on the age of your kiddo. This way kids are grouped with similar ages and activities can be better suited to their age level. If you’re a parent you should definitely take advantage of this free service to allow yourself some time to relax.

Arcade Video games may not be your thing… but if you have kids they will likely love the arcade. Similar to the ship’s casino, the arcade is just like you’d find on land, only smaller. There are shooting games, air hockey, skill cranes, and more. The arcades can sometimes be hard to find as they aren’t that big and can be tucked away. Check out your specific ship’s deck plan to see exactly where it is.

IMAX/Thrill Theater Only available on a couple of newer Carnival ships, most people won’t be sailing on a vessel that has an IMAX. Still, if you are on the Vista or Horizon then you can catch a flick at the only IMAX screens at sea. The costs are similar to what you’d pay on land and the theater shows new release movies. In addition, there is also the Thrill Theater, a theater with a platform of seats that moves with the action on the screen, along with other effects like wind blowing and water splashing.

Shopping If you want to spend some money, you’ll have no shortage of things to buy on the ship. There are stores for everything from duty-free alcohol and cigarettes to expensive watches and jewelry. You can shop for souvenirs, t-shirts, art, and more. Oh, and if you forget anything at home there will also be a small shop where you can get everything from a toothbrush to over-the-counter-medicines.

Nightclubs/Bars What would a cruise ship be without bars? Carnival doesn’t lack in this respect. No matter if you want a fun poolside bar (RedFrog Rum Bar) or a fancy high-end bar with craft cocktails (Alchemy Bar), you’ll be covered. In addition there are also a number of clubs for you to hang out in the evening while you enjoy your drink.

Entertainment Put On by Staff In addition to these things to do, there is also the entertainment put on by the cruise staff. This includes games and trivia during the day, contests (dancing, free-throw shooting, ping pong), production shows, game shows, movie screenings, and even late-night comedians.

For an idea of what you might expect, check out the lineup of activities from just one afternoon of a day at sea:

Carnival Ships

All told, Carnival’s fleet of ships measures more than two dozen vessels and frankly, your vacation can vary widely with the ship that you sail.

Take the Carnival Elation. The ship was built in 1998. Coming in at about 70,000 gross tons, it is among Carnival’s oldest and smallest ships. While’s it’s been refurbished (don’t worry, you aren’t sleeping on the same bed as someone who sailed in the ’90s!), it’s still going to be smaller and not offer many of the amenities of the newer ships. 

Compare that to Carnival’s newer Vista-Class ships like the Carnival Horizon (shown above). These ships are about twice the size of the Carnival Elation… and have a lot more features. From way more restaurants to IMAX theaters to larger venues to spots like the Havana Bar, cabins, and pool area, the larger and newer ships have a lot more to offer.

And Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee — part of Carnival’s Excel class, came to the fleet starting in 2021. It takes things even bigger. These vessels reportedly cost $1 billion to build, comes in at 180,000 gross tons and can carry 6,500 passengers at full capacity. They even has the only roller-coaster ever put on a cruise ship, along with several new eateries not available on the rest of the fleet.

Personally, we like to stick with newer ships (those built around 2010 and later). To us, these ships simply offer “more” of everything to passengers.

Cabins & Accommodations

Across more than two dozen ships (each with hundreds or thousands of cabins), the cabin experience can vary widely. In most cases, however, Carnival offers a consistent experience across most of its fleet. That means while they may not be exact, the rooms are somewhat similar.

The first thing you’ll notice about most cabins is that they are small. After all, you are on a ship… no matter how large it might be. Most cabins are about 150-200 square feet. Two adults can share a room comfortably. With two adults and one kid, it’s a tighter fit, but still manageable. Any more than that, and we’d suggest getting two cabins.

Interior The least expensive cabin option, interior cabins are perfect for folks who want to save some cash while setting sail. It’s also ideal if you are the sort of passenger who likely won’t spend a ton of time in your room. Interior cabins are exactly as they are named. Located on the inner part of the ship, they don’t have any windows or access to the outside. In short, it’s a place to keep your things, take a shower, and sleep, but not much else. If you’re interested in learning more about interior cabins, see our article here .

Oceanview A step above interior cabins are oceanview rooms. These staterooms on Carnival offer one advantage over interior cabins — they have a window that lets in natural light and lets you see out. They typically cost a little more, but it’s worth it for those who want to at least have a window in their room.

Balcony Think of your cabin, and you likely picture a balcony room. While the inside part of the cabin is usually not that much different in size than an oceanview cabin, the addition of the balcony makes the room feel much larger as there is an extra space for you to enjoy. In addition to a great place to relax, the balcony offers essentially another room in the cabin so that you don’t feel like you are cramped inside of four walls.

Suites & Special Cabins If you want luxury, more space, or simply want some exclusive access to facilities, then Carnival has you covered.

First, you can get a suite. Larger and coming with perks like VIP check-in, suites are ideal for those that need more space or simply want a more luxurious experience. 

In addition, Carnival has introduced a few new room options on some ships like — Havana rooms, Cloud 9 rooms, and the Family Harbor cabins. 

Havana rooms are located in their own special area and have a Cuban-theme different from the rest of the ship. While the theme of the rooms might pique your interest, it’s the exclusivity that many enjoy about the Havana cabins.

As a guest in one of these few rooms, you have access to an exclusive pool and bar; you wear a wristband to show that you’re a guest with access. This means you have your own oasis with only a handful of other guests, away from the crowds found on the rest of the ship.

Cloud 9 Spa rooms are for those who love the spa experience. The cabins include amenities like priority spa reservations, unlimited use of the spa’s thermal suites, special robes, treatment discounts, and more.  

Family Harbor cabins are similar to Havana room in that they also offer their own theme (classic nautical, complete with lots of signal flags) and their own exclusive space. In this case instead of a pool and a bar area, it’s the Family Harbor Lounge. This lounge is a dedicated space for families — featuring TV, video games, board games, as well as snacks and breakfast. If you want a spot where you’re family can play together, this is it.

Food & Restaurants

What would a cruise be without food? In that area, Carnival is no slouch. In fact, among the mass-market cruise lines, it offers the most variety of free dining options. While it also has specialty restaurants, Carnival still keeps many of the most popular restaurants free.

Dining Included with Your Cruise Fare You won’t go hungry on your cruise, even if you don’t want to shell out more for dining. Free options abound on the ship.

Guy’s Burger Joint By far the most popular free dining on the ship among passengers is Guy’s Burger Joint . In collaboration with celebrity chef Guy Fieri, Carnival offers this hamburger spot across the fleet. Burgers are freshly made, along with tons of topping options and seasoned fries. Simply line up (it’s by the pool) and get your lunch or early dinner. The only downside is that the restaurant is open only during the day.

BlueIguana Serving both breakfast and lunch, BlueIguana is in the same area as Guy’s Burger Joint — next to the pool. Here you can get free Mexican food favorites like tacos and burritos. Similar to Chipotle, you just let them know what you want in your tortilla. In the morning they also serve breakfast burritos.

Pizza del Capitano (or Pizza Pirate) Depending on the ship you sail, the pizza parlor onboard Carnival is either Pizza del Capitano or Pizza Pirate. In essence, they are the same place. And while you might not expect a joint called Pizza Pirate to serve up good pizza… it actually does. In fact, it’s some of our favorite pizza anywhere, even on land. The pies are baked fresh and come in only a few combinations: margherita, four cheese, and pepperoni. Best of all, it is free, 24 hours per day.

Buffet Many people want to know about the buffet on a Carnival cruise. To be sure, it’s the busiest place to eat during the cruise. You’ll no doubt eat many of your meals here. The buffet serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and while it’s not open around the clock, it is open during the normal mealtimes. The menu changes, but it’s typical buffet fare and quality.

Mornings will have everything from omelet stations to cereal to bacon and pancakes. Lunch and dinner will have a wide variety including a salad bar, burgers, entrees (often similar to what’s in the main dining room), and desserts.

We’ll be honest, the buffet quality isn’t the greatest to us. It’s a good idea to eat here occasionally and try your other options around the ship so you don’t get tired of what you’re eating.

Big Chicken Making its debut on Mardi Gras, Big Chicken already looks to be a favorite that could spread to other ships. It’s a chicken restaurant serving chicken sandwiches, chicken strips and baskets. They also offer breakfast, including chicken biscuits.

ChiBang! Another new addition to the Carnival fleet, if sailing on Mardi Gras, Celebration, or Jubilee, then you’ll see ChiBang! It’s free to eat and is a combination Asian food and Mexican food spot. Not fusion… it’s literally two different menus based on what you want to eat. So you can get Kung Pao chicken or have some nachos.

Main Dining Room Many of your meals in the evening will likely be in the main dining room. Here you’ll get table service and white tablecloths. The menu changes each night, but keeps classic dishes in rotation no matter when you visit. Your options here are fresher than you’ll find in the buffet. As well, you have a variety of options of what to eat.

Most nights the dress code is casual — wear pants and a shirt and you’ll be fine. No swimsuits or tank tops. On elegant night, you don’t have to wear a tux, but it’s ideal if you can dress it up a little bit.

Specialty Restaurants (Extra Cost) In addition to the free dining, there are also a number of specialty restaurants where you’ll pay extra to eat. This includes places like the steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi.

Specialty restaurants offer different fare — Asian, Italian, steak, BBQ, and more — allowing you to skip the main dining room or buffet during the evening. One nice perk is that some are open for lunch for free, while charging for dinner . Head over during lunch and you can get a free meal instead of having to pay. 

For a full run-down on all your options, including profiles and costs, we have everything about Carnival specialty restaurants here .

Gratuities on Carnival

Like nearly every cruise line, you’ll have to pay gratuities when you sail aboard Carnival. These days the charges hit your bill automatically. In fact, many people pay them when they pay for the cruise and well before they set foot on the ship.

Carnival’s gratuities run $16.00 per person, per day for most cabins. So on a five-day cruise, you’ll pay an extra $80.00 per person in addition to your cruise fare. The amount for suites is $18.00 per person. All passengers — except children under 2 years old — are charged these amounts.

For more on cruise line gratuities and how they work, see our article here . You can also use our gratuity calculator to see how much you’ll spend in total over the length of your trip.

Enjoying your cruise with a drink in your hand is a popular pastime. With bars all over the ship, it’s never a far walk to get a beverage. Meanwhile, selling alcohol is a big moneymaker for the cruise lines. Prices for beer can run $6-8. It can be $10-12 for a cocktail. Having several of these a day can add up.

If you’re worried about your tab, Carnival offers the CHEERS! drink package. This package provides your drinks for one flat rate. For $59.95 per person (plus gratuity), per day you can get pretty much anything to drink on the ship. That includes everything from alcoholic drinks to soda to water to milkshakes.

One caveat is that you can only get up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day (no limit on non-alcoholic). As well, it’s $5 more per day if you purchase once on the ship instead of ahead of time.

For more on everything about the CHEERS! package, you can read our complete profile here .

What Carnival Does Well

When it comes to an affordable and fun vacation, it’s hard to beat what Carnival has created. As one of the more budget-friendly cruise lines, it’s given the ability for people to travel the Caribbean and have a great time for sometimes less than $70 per day.

The atmosphere is warm and fun, with no pretentiousness. Food is decent to good (with lots of included options), and the staff is attentive to passenger needs. In short, it’s a solid all-around enjoyable vacation.

If you’re the sort of person who wants to stay at the Four Seasons and drink nothing but the finest champagne, then Carnival might not be the cruise line for you. But if you enjoy having a burger and drinking a fruity cocktail or a beer next to the pool, then you’ll have fun.

What Carnival Could Improve

So where could Carnival do better for passengers? Keeping in mind that Carnival offers a lot of value already at the low price point, we wouldn’t suggest more luxuries or a higher-end focus. That would be hard to accomplish and still offer a great value for a cruise.

Instead, we think one of the areas where the cruise line can improve in relation to competitors are the things to do on board. In our opinion, Royal Caribbean leads the industry and everyone else is playing catch-up.

When you’re spending an entire week on a cruise ship, it takes a lot of options to keep things entertaining. Having more activities keeps things fun. Already we’re seeing Carnival do exactly this with the recent launch of the world’s first roller coaster at sea on its Excel-class ships. Still, more things to do — both big and small — would be ideal across the fleet.

Have more questions about sailing aboard Carnival… or if it’s the right line for you? Ask in the comments below.

Related Articles:

• 47 Best Carnival Cruise Line Tips & Tricks
• Worth It? 15+ Questions & Answers About the Carnival CHEERS! Package
• 38 Must-Do Things on a Carnival Cruise Ship

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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Russian River Cruises

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Ms pyotr velikiy, ms mustai karim, scenic tsar, viking akun, viking ingvar, ms general lavrinenkov, ms lunnaya sonata, viking truvor, ms yuri andropov, ms zosima shashkov, ms crucelake-lebedinoe ozero, ms leonid sobolev, ms mikhail sholokhov, review of russian river cruises.

CruiseMapper's "Russian River Cruises" hub provides detailed information on ships, itineraries, tours and prices on cruises along rivers and lakes in Russia. Here you'll also find concise info on the largest Russian cruise companies, including Vodohod , Mosturflot , Infoflot , Doninturflot-Orthodox , Imperial River Cruises Russia .

In the "Fleet" section you will find an extensive list or Russian cruise ships. By following each ship link you will find the ship's review, deck plans, scheduled itineraries and cruise pricing information. Live ship tracking is also provided on a digital map. It shows the vessel's current location, cruising speed and course.

In the "Itinerary" section you will find maps and day-by-day scheduled activities planned by Europe's largest cruise companies, also operating in Russia via chartered riverboats.

Volga River Cruises in Russia

Volga river cruising in Russia places you in another time. The longest and largest river in Europe stretches from Ivan the Terrible to Catherine the Great. Today, live along the central artery of Russia looks like it always has - the villages, the churches, the people, just like an old painting you have seen in a gallery.

The Volga flows through central Russia into the Caspian Sea and is often called the national river of Russia. 11 of the 20 largest cities of the country, including the capital Moscow, are in Volga's watershed. Some of the world's largest reservoirs can be found along the river, which has a symbolic meaning in Russian culture, referred to as Mother Volga (Volga Matushka) in Russian folklore and literature.

Explore the land of the Tsars while sailing down the historic Volga river, typically between Moscow and St Petersburg , the traditional homeports (of embarkation and debarkation). Tour landmarks are the Red Square and Kremlin in Moscow, the Hermitage and Catherine Palace in St Petersburg.

Once unthinkable as a cruise vacation destination, Russia is today more accessible than ever, with stops along its largest European lakes and rivers. For river travel lovers accustomed to European itineraries, the Russian experience will be quite different. Russia has a special feel of uniquely designed riverboats. Built to handle larger lakes (Lake Ladoga for example, is the largest European freshwater body of water), these vessels usually feature larger size and capacity (up to six decks), deeper draft, and most of them are refurbished instead of being newbuild.

The itineraries offered are activity-intensive in Moscow and St Petersburg, with long periods of cruising and less ashore time in the middle. Smaller "Golden Ring" cities (so named due to their historic significance) are full of icon-riddled monasteries and Orthodox churches. Most cruise lines hire local experts and fill the days of sailing along the river with lectures on country's history, cooking demonstrations and language lessons.

Most of the tours offered by the companies sailing along Volga River are identical, so customers choosing between the different itineraries should look at how the river ships spend the time within Moscow and St. Petersburg. Some lines have their guests stay onboard, which can be as far as 1 hour out of both cities. Others put their clients up at hotels near the center of the city, with several meals at customer's expense.

Compared with other river routes, Russia features a short season, between early May and late October, with high season in June (known as White Nights because of the endless daylight), July and August. Even if the weather is chilly, there are some advantages to sailing early or late: you'll beat the crowds which can make a visit to the Hermitage a bear. Most Russian museums lack air-conditioning, and while the climate is generally temperate, in the summer Moscow often experiences high humidity heat waves.

Remember to think about your Russian visa at least 2 months before your voyage, to have enough time to fill out the paperwork, including a lengthy online application. And don't forget that the Russian language uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Even in the cities, you'll rarely find signs in English, so learning some letters and a few phrases will help you get around.

Doninturflot-Orthodox Cruise Company

Orthodox Cruise Company operates a fleet of USSR-design large river ships and serves mainly foreign tourists. The parent company Doninturflot (established in 1992) is the shipowner and manages the fleet.

• Doninturflot started operations with the ships MS Maxim Litvinov, MS Mikhail Sholokhov and MS Sergei Dyagilev.
• Since 2002, Docturflot charters Akademik Glushkov (currently MS Igor Stravinsky) owned by OOO Rosflotinvest.
• In 2004 was acquired MS Anton Chekhov from Yenisei River Shipping Company (Russia).
• In 2006 were acquired MS Peter Tchaikovsky and MS Ivan Bunin from the Moscow-based cruise shipping company "Passenger Port".
• In 2008 was bought MS General Lavrinenkov from "Ukrrechflot" (Ukraine).
• In 2011 was bought MS Marshal Koshevoy (from Ukrrichflot, Ukraine) but in April 2013 the ship was sold to Viking Cruises (now operates as Viking Akun ).
• In 2016, was purchased MS Tikhi Don from the UK-based Grand Circle Travel company. In 2017, the ship started operations for Orthodox Cruise Company serving international tourists.

Imperial River Cruises Russia

"Imperial River Cruises Russia" was founded in 1992 and operates on inland waterways in both Russia and Ukraine. Company's chartered ships navigate on the rivers Volga, Don, Neva, Svir, Dnieper (also on the Danube) and the Russian lakes Onega and Ladoga.

The most operated itineraries are between Moscow and St Petersburg (visiting Uglich, Kostrom, Yaroslavl, Goritzy). Specially designed itineraries visit Vladimir, Suzdal, Zagorsk, Solovki Island. Also offered are itineraries Moscow-Volgograd and Moscow-Rostov, roundtrips from Kiev, and even grand voyages connecting two seas - Baltic and Black. Also offered are themed cruises - especially on food and music, with live performances by grand orchestras and choirs.

Imperial River Cruises Russia has an exclusive partnership with "Orthodox Cruise Company" - one of Russia's largest tour operators. As their names suggest, both companies target mainly foreign tourists - booking in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia. Ships' capacity varies between 180-250 passengers. English (or German) speaking licensed tour guides are provided on all excursions. The daily onboard entertainment program offers live musical performances, folk shows, enrichment lectures.

Russian river cruise deals

• Departure port (dock/berth), check-in, boarding and landing times are indicated on the company's website and on passenger boarding passes. Ship's exact departure time is clarified on the website the day prior departure.
• Kids discount ticket prices are offered for children up to 14 years of age (14-yo including), the age being fixed on departure day.
• Kids from 2 to 5 years of age (5-yo including) travel free of charge, but without providing an additional bed (if there are no free beds in the cabin). Shore excursions are also free of charge.
• Toddlers (kids under 2) travel free of charge, but the bed, food, and tour services are not provided. Extra beds in staterooms (baby cribs, cots) are not available on the ship.
• TWIN (double cabin) single supplement rate is 75%.
• Ticket prices are inclusive of 3 meals a day. Onboard dining includes Breakfast (buffet style, drinks - cocoa, milk, juices, hot-cold dishes), Lunch (buffet style) and Dinner (waiter-served, 1 Starter, 1 Main course (choice of 3 / meat-fish-vegetarian), 1 Dessert (choice of 2 or fruits). Water in pitchers is always provided. Tea/coffee is served.
• On embarkation day and disembarkation day (at the end of the voyage) meal times depend on landing times. If a land tour coincides with a meal time (lunch), passengers are provided with complimentary food at a local restaurant (cafe) or given "dry rations".
• Ticket price inclusive onboard events are Welcome Aboard ("bread and salt" ceremony), Welcome Cocktail (complimentary 1 glass of champagne or juice per person), "Tea Ceremony" (with traditional pies), "Vodka Show" (blini and vodka tasting), Cocktail Party (once per cruise, complimentary 1 cocktail per person), Captain's Dinner (gourmet menu, once per cruise), mulled wine or ice tea (weather-depending / upon returning from excursions), complimentary Coffee Station (coffee, hot water, packed tea, milk, cocoa, cookies), 1 bottled water (0.33l pp per day in cabins). Tickets are also inclusive of foreign language speaking guide services, onboard entertainment (language class, singing lessons, live music, nightly dancing music, Wheelhouse tour).
• Complimentary excursions are detailed in the ship's cruise itinerary program. Optional tours are available for onboard booking. For excursion services, foreigner passengers may be charged with additional fee pp per day (varies by cruise tour length).
• Cruise tickets don't include land transfers (excepting foreign travel agency bookings), beverages and snacks (in onboard bars-lounges), phone calls, sauna visits, optional excursions, travel insurance, gratuities, personal spendings. Ticket prices include 18% VAT.
• Smoking on the ship is allowed only in designated areas (marked with "Place for smoking" signs). Smoking is prohibited in all interior spaces and on open decks (except at designated areas).
• On most ships are available health gymnastics and morning exercises (led by a certified physician/ship's doctor), oxygen cocktail, dietary food.
• On most ships are provided (free of charge) the following medical services - emergency medical care (assistance required for sudden acute illnesses, conditions, exacerbation of chronic diseases), measurement of blood pressure and body temperature, primary treatment of wounds.
• Boarding starts 2 hours prior to departure. All passengers must be boarded at least an hour prior to departure. Late passengers missing their cruise tour are not refunded.
• Russia's main river cruise departure ports are Moscow , St Petersburg , Astrakhan , Nizhny Novgorod , Perm , Samara , Kazan , Volgograd , Rostov-on-Don , Saratov .

Russian cruise ships

Currently, in Russia is operated a huge fleet of over 200 river cruise ships. All these vessels were built during the USSR (Soviet Union) times, roughly in the period between 1950-1990. Depending on class and series, these boats differ in terms of size, equipment (different engine designs), passenger capacity, onboard facilities and venues, cabins (types and number). Amenities additionally differ by shipowner (cruise company).

All these old-design Russian ships were completely refurbished and rebuilt for their new shipowners, Some of these ships are operated (via partnerships or under charter) also by foreign companies (like Viking, CroisiEurope, Uniworld, AMAwaterways, Grand Circle, Nicko). During their multi-million-dollar drydock refits, vessels passenger capacities were considerably reduced to improve travel comfort and safety.

Most boats are of the following classes:

• "Rossiya" (Project 785, 36 vessels built 1952-1958)
• "Baykal" (Project 646, 15 units built 1953-1956)
• "Rodina" (Project 588, 49 vessels built 1954-1961)
• "Oktyabrskaya Revolyutsiya" (Project 26-37, 14 units built 1957-1962)
• "Dunay" (Project 305, 47 vessels built between 1959-1964)
• "Kuybyshev" (Project OL400, 9 units built 1975-1983)
• "Vladimir Ilyich" (Project 301, 22 vessels built between 1975-1983)
• "Dmitri Furmanov" (Project 302, 27 vessels built between 1983-1991)

Regardless of their age, all these motor ships undergo regular drydock refurbishments , machinery and safety checks, scheduled repairs (including annual surveys). Drydocks are every 5 years and include repairs, hull inspection, propulsion-steering inspection, general maintenance works.

Each ship is equipped with life-saving appliances (lifeboats and rafts) in amounts exceeding the boat's max passenger and crew capacity. Each cabin is equipped with lifejackets with illustrated instructions in several languages. All ships are equipped with modern fire-fighting systems. Crew and staff are experienced and highly professional certified employees.

Itinerary of Russian River Cruises

CruiseMapper's "Russian River Cruises" itinerary section provides information on itineraries and ports of call offered by the largest Russian and European river cruise companies - Vodohod, Viking, Uniworld, Scenic, CroisiEurope. Each foreign company has a partnership with a local company and operates as a joint venture one or more Russian ships.

For detailed itinerary information (routes) visit our pages of the following departure ports - Saratov , Volgograd , Samara , Perm , Nizhny Novgorod , Cheboksary , Rostov-on-Don ,  Kazan , Astrakhan , Moscow , St Petersburg .

Volga River cruise ports highlights

• St Petersburg (Russia's second-largest city - after Moscow) was built by Tzar Peter the Great in 1703. It is located in the Neva River delta (Gulf of Finland's east coast). Saint Petersburg includes the territories of more than 130 islands interconnected by over 300 bridges. The city has a huge number of cultural and historical sights, architectural landmarks, museums, magnificent palaces (Russian Tsars' former residences), grand parks, wide avenues, bridges, numerous monuments. Among its most famous tourist attractions are the Hermitage museum (housing over 2 million pieces of art). Two days is never enough to see everything in this remarkable city. However, passengers will usually visit the Hermitage, admire the city's 19th-century architecture during a canal cruise tour, take in a cultural performance, visit one of the Versailles-style palaces in St. Petersburg's countryside (Pushkin or Peterhof).
• Moscow (Russian Federation's capital and largest city) was founded in 1147 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. The city was destroyed several times - by the Mongolians, Napoleon, the Nazis. The heart of the city lies in the Red Square, which contains Lenin's Tomb, St Basil's Cathedral, and GUM Department Store. Kremlin's red walls also border the square. Inside the fort are the Armoury (containing the Faberge eggs) and 9 onion-domed churches. Art-fans can seek out Pushkin Gallery or see a show at Bolshoi Theatre.
• Yaroslavl is one of the Golden Ring cities of Russia, and the largest city to visit during the middle of your Volga cruise. The town is famous for its gorgeous churches. It also offers several pedestrian-only streets full of shops and cafes, as well as a lovely embankment used as a park.
• Uglich has a provincial setting. It was found in the 10th century and was a scene of some of medieval Russian history's most remarkable events. Here were exiled the Ivan Terrible’s 7th wife and her son Tsarevich Dmitry. Soon after, Tsarevich was mysteriously murdered here. Soon after, a dedicated to this event church ("Church of St. Demetrius on the Blood") was erected. Within the Uglich Kremlin walls is the town's oldest building - "Prince’s Palace". Other attractions are St. John’s Church and the Transfiguration Cathedral.
• Astrakhan was founded at the end of the 13th century and is located on the Volga's left bank. Port’s activities extend 100 km downstream and over 300 km upstream along the river. The city is a major trading center and its main business is freight shipping (coal, timber, salt, food, industrial products). Astrakhan is not linked to the railroad network. Cargoes are transferred by floating cranes from river ships to seagoing vessels.
• Goritsy is a small village on River Sheksna, famous for its Resurrection Convent, At approx 4 ml (7 km) from Goritsy is Kirillov - a pilgrimage site with many historical and architectural monuments. Among those are the Kirillo-Belozerski monastery, Ferapont monastery (UNESCO site), 12 churches, 25 civil monuments.
• Kizhi Island (Lake Onega) is located approx 70 km (40 ml) to the northeast of Petrozavodsk. The island has two onion-domed churches. Also here is the 17th-century-built 22-domed church - constructed without using a single nail. Its "Church of the Transfiguration of our Savior" and "Church of the Intercession" were rebuilt several times and are preserved in their original 17th-century design.
• Mandrogi (Mandroga) is a small village on the Svir river recently created as a tourist attraction. It features small wooden log cabin houses. Its “town of masters” is a market for hand-made Russian art craft, including paintings, painted wooden dolls, embroidery, pottery. Other attractions are the elk nursery and the quail farm, horse-riding tours, food tasting (pastry), vodka tasting (museum of Russian vodka).
• Kostroma is also one of the Golden Ring cities, and once was one of Russia's 3 largest cities - after Moscow and Yaroslavl, It is located at the confluence of the rivers Volga and Kostroma. Among the attractions are the St Ipathy monastery, an open-air museum (traditional wooden architecture- izbas, mills, churches are gathered in one place).
• Kizhi is famous the whole world over. It has become the symbol of the grandeur of unique Russian culture. Visiting the Kizhi Islands gives a great chance to appreciate the enchanting medieval atmosphere and get acquainted with the customs and free spirit of men living in a spacious area with a rigorous climate
• Kazan. The largest port in the Volga basin, it transships cargoes transported by water alone or by water and rail. The port receives coal from Kuznetsk Basin for Kazan's heat and electric power plant, food and industrial products, and ships out products of city's enterprises and Siberian timber. The port includes Tsentral’nyi, Kama, and Volga cargo areas, as well as a number of landings, the biggest of which is Naberezhnye Chelny and Chistopol’. The basin of the Tsentral’nyi Cargo Area and passenger area are protected by a breakwater.
• Novgorod (Nizhniy Novgorod) is an ancient stronghold founded by Gran Prince Yuri as a frontier post, is now the 5th largest city of Russia as well as one of the main centers of river tourism in the country. In the 19th century, Nizhniy became the trade center of the whole state as it was the place of the biggest fair in the Russian Empire. A proverb of that time says: "Moscow is the heart of Russia, St. Petersburg is its head, and Nizhniy Novgorod - its pocketbook". The city was renamed "Gorky" in Soviet times, in honor of the writer Maxim Gorky, born there. Until 1990, Nizhniy Novgorod was “closed” to foreigners as USSR protected its military secrets. Nizhniy Novgorod is included in the UNESCO list of 100 cities constituting world cultural and historical value.
• Samara - during the Soviet period the city was named Kuybyshev, in honor of the Soviet party figure Valerian Kuybyshev. The shortest ways from Central and Western Europe to Kazakhstan, Siberia, and Central Asia run through Samara. The city has a rich cultural heritage: Alexey Tolstoy spent his childhood and youth there. Maxim Gorky started his literary career in the city - he worked in "Samara Newspaper". The Czech writer Yaroslav Gashek also worked in Samara, during the Civil war. Famous artists like Ilya Repin, Ivan Ayvazovsky, Vasily Surikov, lived in the city. During the Great Patriotic War, the Seventh Symphony of Dmitry Shostakovich was performed in Samara for the first time.
• Tver - the White Trinity Church (1564) is the sole ancient monument of Tver as in 1763, there was a great fire after which the city was rebuilt in Neoclassical style. There are also a lot of buildings of Catherine the Great. Tver State University is highly rated in the region. In 1931, Tver received the name Kalinin, in honor of the Soviet leader Mikhail Kalinin. The city was occupied by the German army in 1941. Only 2 months later it became the first big city in Europe liberated from the occupation.
• Ulyanovsk is located on the right bank of the Kuibyshev Reservoir. Port's activities extend 90 km downstream and 100 km upstream along the Volga. The port unloads mineral construction materials, food, and industrial products for the cities of Saransk and Uljanovsk, and ships out coal from Kuznetsk Basin, automobiles, foodstuffs. Its passenger area was rebuilt in 1969 and includes a large number of landings, the biggest being Melekess and Sengilei. The basin of the port of Ulyanovsk is protected by a breakwater.
• Saratov (founded in 1590) is the capital city of a huge province that as size equals the territories of Albania, Belgium and Switzerland combined. In the late 19th century, Saratov became a center for industry and trade, Among the city's attractions, are Moskovskaya street (Europe's longest straight street), one of Europe's longest bridges (2,8 km long), children’s theater, puppet theater, Russia’s oldest circus, musical conservatory, beaches, Art Galleries, Lipki Park, two large casinos.
• Volgograd (currently Stalingrad) was founded in 1589. This is a major port and shipping hub linking Donets Basin with the Urals and Upper Volga Region. It ships grain, coal, food, and industrial products upstream and receives mineral construction materials and timber. The port’s districts are situated within the cities of Volzhsk and Volgograd (Tsentral’nyi). Kamyshin is the biggest landing belonging to the port. Among Volgograd's attractions is the Mamayev Hill with numerous sculptures devoted to the WW2 victims and topped with the world’s largest freestanding statue “Mother Russia” (height 52 m / 171 ft). Adjacent is the "Museum of the Defense" (war artifacts, weapons, uniforms).

All ships listed here operate on Russian waterways. To this long list should be additionally added the following boats, which are currently listed in the fleets of their own companies:

• Scenic Tsar (company Scenic Cruises )
• River Victoria (company Uniworld )
• Viking Rurik , Viking Akun , Viking Helgi , Viking Ingvar , Viking Truvor (company Viking Cruises )

Viking River Cruises in Russia - Itinerary "Waterways of the Tsars"

Viking's itinerary is named "Waterways of the Tsars" (13-day cruise) inclusive of:

• all transfers and port charges
• Riverview stateroom
• 10 guided tours (audio headsets provided)
• all onboard meals (including 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 12 dinners, Welcome Cocktail Reception, Gala Dinner)
• complimentary beverages (wine, beer, and soft drinks with all dinners and lunches)
• complimentary Wi-Fi
• visiting four UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• enrichment events (onshore live music and dance performances), onboard Russian language lessons, history-themed lectures, Russian cooking workshop, Russian tea time).
• Viking's Russian cruise fares are between USD 5,100 - 5,600 PP. Prices are inclusive of international airfare from 30 USA airports.
• Airport transfers (meet & greet) are included only when flights are purchased through Viking Cruises.

Optional (additionally priced) extensions are:

• (pre-cruise) 2-night Moscow hotel package (Radisson Royal Hotel or similar), with included 2 breakfasts, Moscow Subway guided tour, Viking host services.
• (post-cruise) 3-night Helsinki hotel package (Radisson Blu Plaza or similar), with included 3 breakfasts, guided walking tour, Viking host services, train travel (St Petersburg to Helsinki), all hotel and ship transfers.

Itineraries are two: northbound (Moscow to St Petersburg) or the reverse southbound (St Petersburg to Moscow).

• (Day 1) Moscow arrival, airport to ship transfer, onboard dinner
• (Day 2) half-day Moscow tour (Bolshoi Theater, Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, GUM Department Store, Moscow Metro)
• (Day 3) free time full-day Moscow touring, or an optional morning tour to Tretyakov Gallery Russian fine art museum). Other optional tours are in the afternoon (Cosmonaut Museum, Jewish Moscow) and in the evening (Moscow by Night).
• (Day 4) Moscow tour to Kremlin (Tsar’s Canon, Tsar’s Bell, 2 cathedrals), scenic Moscow Canal cruise (after lunch) as the ships departs the city.
• (Day 5) Uglich arrival (after lunch), disembarkation for a guided walking tour (Kremlin of Uglich, Church of St Dmitry on the Blood, tea at a local family home), before dinner departure
• (Day 6) Yaroslavl arrival in the morning, guided tour (covered food market, handcrafted souvenirs shopping), free time, ship lunch, departure.
• (Day 7) Kuzino morning arrival, tour to Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery (guided walk- wooden chapels, Assumption Cathedral, museum), children’s school, ship lunch, afternoon departure.
• (Day 8) Kizhi Island (Lake Onega cruising) afternoon arrival, walking tour (Open Air Museum of Architecture- wooden houses, windmills, churches, Preobranzhenskaya Church), evening departure.
• (Day 9) Mandrogy (Svir River cruising) afternoon arrival (Vodka Museum, handmade Russian craft shopping, optional banya / Russian bathhouse visit, optional tour (matryoshka doll making workshop), Lake Ladoga cruising to Neva River.
• (Day 10) — St Petersburg (Neva River cruising), early morning arrival, onboard breakfast, guided tour (Winter Palace, Hermitage Museum), onboard dinner and evening live Russian ballet performance.
• (Day 11) St Petersburg tour to Pushkin district (Catherine Palace), ship lunch, city tour (St Isaac’s Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress, Nevsky Prospekt), optional evening folklore performance.
• (Day 12) free time St Petersburg touring (optional morning tour to Peterhof Palace, optional afternoon kommunalka tour, optional St Petersburg canal cruise from), onboard lunch and dinner.
• (Day 13) St Petersburg - onboard breakfast, ship disembarkation, ship to airport transfer for the return flight.

Uniworld Cruises in Russia - itinerary "Imperial Waterways of Russia"

The 13-day long itinerary is named "Imperial Waterways of Russia" and operated by the ship River Victoria. Uniworld's Russian cruise fares range between USD 5,200 and 9,900 PP (depending on cabin category.

• Day 1 – Moscow (Sheremetyevo Airport arrival, ship transfer, embarkation)
• Day 2 – Moscow (city tour, metro tour, Arbat Street) - Bolshoi Theatre, Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, Russian lunch included, onboard Captain’s Welcome Reception, Gala Dinner
• Day 3 – Moscow (Kremlin, Armory Museum)
• Day 4 – Moscow (leisure day)
• Day 5 – Moscow Canal and Volga River cruising to Uglich (walking tour)
• Day 6 – Yaroslavl (Lake Rybinsk cruising) - city tour
• Day 7 – Goritsy (Lake Onega cruising) - monasteries, St Cyril of the White Lake Monastery, Children’s Arts and Crafts,
• Day 8 – Kizhi Island (Lake Onega cruising) - Open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture
• Day 9 – Svir River cruising to Mandrogi, Lake Ladoga cruising - Mandrogi walk tour (picnic lunch)
• Day 10 – St Petersburg (city tour, canal cruise, Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, ballet performance at Alexandrinsky Theatre)
• Day 11 – St Petersburg (Catherine Palace, Pushkin Park)
• Day 12 – St Petersburg (Winter Palace - Hermitage Museum, Captain’s Farewell Reception, Gala Dinner)
• Day 13 – St Petersburg (disembarkation, transfer and return flight).

Scenic River Cruises in Russia - itinerary "The Imperial Wonders Of Russia"

The itinerary is operated by Scenic Tzar and named "Imperial Jewels of Russia". Its duration is 15-day, along Volga and Svir rivers. Scenic Cruises deals are inclusive of:

• Scenic Enrich - handcrafted, Scenic passengers exclusive tour experiences (private shows, family meals prepared by local hosts)
• Scenic Sundowners - exclusive cocktail events
• all onboard meals (including complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunches and dinners)
• onboard doctor
• onboard entertainment
• in-cabin room service
• Wi-Fi internet (Mac mini infotainment system via the cabin's TV)
• all gratuities
• Scenic's Russian cruise fares are USD 11,500 PP.

Day-by-day itinerary info: Day 1 (Moscow), Day 2 (Moscow, Sundowners canal cruise), Day 3 (Moscow - Kremlin), Day 4 (Moscow - Cosmonaut meeting), Day 5 (Moscow - Tretyakov Gallery), Day 6 (Uglich), Day 7 (Yaroslavl - city tour), Day 8 (Goritsy - Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery), Day 9 (Kizhi Island - Church of Transfiguration), Day 10 (Mandrogi - Museum village), Day 11 (St Petersburg - Hermitage), Day 12 (St Petersburg - Peterhof Palace), Day 13 (St Petersburg - Private Ballet performance), Day 14 (St Petersburg - canal cruise), Day 15 (return flight).

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